Cap for poison containers



Nov. 8, 1949 L. QUIRING 2,487,728

CAP FOR POISON GQNTAINERS Filed June 10, 1947 19 3,1 14 "iii P20 w i I'L-Q BWW W Patented Nov. 8, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAP FORPOISON CONTAINERS Fabian L. Quiring, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application June 10, 1947, Serial No. 753,652

My invention relates to caps for poison containers.

The primary object of my invention is to safeguard children and adultsin the handling of poison containers, by providing a container cap whichis not easily removed, and which therefore cannot be removed throughmistake.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cap for poisoncontainers which will signal the potential user of the poisonouscontents as soon as the container cap is touched.

A still further object is to provide a container cap of the abovementioned character, which is extremely simplified and therefore verypractical and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a poison container provided with a capembodying my invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary central vertical longitudinalsection through the same,

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing the outer cap inposition to be removed,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of caps, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary central vertical longitudinal section througha modified form of the invention.

In the drawings, where for the purpose of illustration are shownpreferred embodiments of my invention, attention is called first toFigures 1 to 4 inclusive. wherein the numeral I!) designates a poisoncontainer or bottle of any suitable shape and size. The container orbottle III is provided with the usual vertical cylindrical dispensingneck II, externallv screw threaded at its upper end as shown at I2.

Mounted upon the screw threaded neck I I, and having screw threadedengagement therewith, is an inner closure member or cap I3. This innercap I3 comprises a cylindrical tubular internally screw threaded skirtportion I4, to engage over the screw threads I2, and a flat circular topI5, providing an inner annular shoulder It to engage upon the top of thecontainer neck II to seal the same. The upper end of the inner cap I3 isexternally screw threaded, as at H, and these screw threads I I extenddownwardly for a short distance only, such as two full threads, andterminate a substantial distance from the bottom of 3 Claims. (Cl.215-9) the cap. The external screw threads I! are adjacent to the topI5. The outside diameter of the skirt portion I4 is equal to or lessthan the minor diameter of the screw threads I'I.

The numeral I8 designates an external safety or signal cap for thepoison container. This external cap I? includes a cylindrical tubularskirt portion I9, internally screw threaded at its lower end for a shortdistance upward, such as two full threads. These internal screw threadsterminate a substantial distance from the top of the external cap, andthey are designated by the numeral 20. The internal cylindrical surface2I of the skirt portion I9, above the screw threads 2!) is preferablyslightly undercut so that its diameter is greater than the outsidediameter of the external screw threads IT. The internal cylindricalsurface 2| extends upwardly axially above the internal screw threads 20for a distance slightly greater than the axial dimension of the externalscrew threads I! on the cap I3. The external cap I8 further includes aflat circular top 22. providing a flat internal circular surface orshoulder 23 to engage upon the top I5, when the caps 23 and I8 are bothapplied to the container, see Figure 2.

In use, the inner cap I3 is applied to the screw threaded neck II of thecontainer in the usual manner, and tightened to seal in the contents ofthe container. The external safety cap I3 is then applied upon the innercap I3, see Figure 3, and the screw threads I1 and 20 enter intoengagement. The external cap I8 is screwed down.- wardlyupon the cap I3,until the screw threads 2!! disengage or overrun the screw threads I'I.When this occurs the external cap I8 is loosely connected with the innercap I3. and will not become disengaged therefrom. The loose connectionexists because the diameter of the internal surface 2! is greater thanthe outsidediameter of the screw threads II, and the axial dimension ofthe surface 2| is greater than that of these threads. The screw threads29 are now out of engagement with the screw threads H, and disposedbeneath the same. see Fi ure and the cap I8 is free to turn in eitherdirection unon the cap I3. There is also considerable axial clearance orend play between the caps I3 and I8, thus assembled. and the outer capI8 will rattle u on the cap I3 when it is touched by the user. Thisrattling provides an audible signal to the potential user of the poisoncontainer as soon as the cap is touched.

In order to remove the caps from the container, it is first necessary toaxially lift the outer cap [8, and to simultaneously turn the same,until the screw threads I! and 20 enter into engagement. When this hasbeen done the outer cap I8 can be removed, but it is still necessary toremove the inner 'cap l3 to reach the poison contents. It is unlikelythat a small child could understand the operations required to open thecontainer. The caps provide a simple and safe closure means for poisoncontainers, and are capable of wide application. It is desired to moldthe caps 13 and I8 from suitableplastics material, but any othermaterial desired may be employed. Obviously, the external design of theouter cap I8 may be varied as. desired.

In Figure 5, I have shown a modification or" the invention, wherein thenumeral 24 designates a container, having a neck externally screwthreaded at its upper end for a short distance downwardly only, as shownat 2B. The neck 25 is provided with an internal cork or stopper El,having a top. 28: which extends above the top of the neck 25., providinga flat seat or shoulder. The numeral 29 designates an external cap,similar to the cap I8 and provided with internal screwthreads 30 at itslower end which extend upwardly for a short distance only. Cap 18 has aninternal. bore 3|: of greater diameter than the outside diameter of thescrew threads 25%; and this bore is of suchv length that when the top 32of the cap engages upon the top of the stopper 28, the screw threads 30are. disposed below the screw threads 26 and. out of engagementtherewith. When this condition exists the cap 29 is loose and freelyrotatable in either direction.

The operation of the cap 29 is identical with the operation of the capl8, and it is meant to serve the same purpose. The form of the inventionshown in Figure permits the use or the loose fitting and signaling upona container provided with a stopper. The advantages and safety achievedare the same as with the first form of the invention.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention herewith shown anddescribed are to be. taken as preferred examples of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size, and arrangement may be resorted to,without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of thesubjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A poison container including a member provided with external screwthreads which terminate short of the. innerend of the member, a caphaving internal screw threads adjacent to its inner end and whichterminate short of its outer end and providedbetween its internal screwthreads and its outer end with a recess which has a diameter greaterthan the diameter of the external screw threads of the member and anaxial dimension greater than the axial dimension of the internal screwthreads, the cap having an internal axial dimension greater than theaxial distance between the inner end of the external screw threads ofthe member and the exterior free end of the member, the arrangementbeing such that the cap may be screwed up so that its internal screwthreads will move inwardly upon I and its outer: end, the outer caphaving an internal axial dimension greater than the axial distancebetween the inner end of the external screw threads of the cap and theexterior free end of the inner cap and the recess havingan axialdimension greater than the axial dimen-.. sion of the exteriorscrewthreads, the-v arrangement being such that the outer cap may: be screwedup so that its internal screw threads. will move inwardly upon andinwardlybeyond; theex-v ternal screw threads of the inner cap, the ex-.vternal screw threads of the inner cap being then positioned within therecess of" theouter cap sothat the outer cap may'rotate while theinternal and external screw threads are out of" mesh.

3. A poison container including a neck provided with external screwthreads which terminateshort of the inner end of the neck, a cap havinginternal screw threads adjacent to its inner end: which terminate shortof its outer end and provided between its internal screw threads and itsouter end with a recess which hasa greater diameter than the externalscrew threads of the neck and an axial dimension greater than the axialdimension of suchexternal screw threads, the cap having an internalaxial dimension greater than the axial distance between the inner end ofthe external screw threads of the neck and the outer end of the neck,the arrangement being such that the cap may be screwed up so that itsinternal screw threads will move inwardly upon and inwardly beyond theexternal screw threads of the neck, the external screw threads of theneck being then rotatable within the recess, and a stopper for insertionwithin the neck.

FABIAN L. QUIRING.

REFERENCES CITED The following, references are of record in the file ofthis patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS

